News

Tahj Mowry will star in the upcoming Disney Plus series “The Muppets Mayhem,” Variety has learned exclusively.

Mowry joins previously announced cast member Lilly Singh in the series, which was first announced in March. The live-action show follows The Electric Mayhem Band — consisting of Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on vocals and bass, Janice on vocals and lead guitar, Zoot on saxophone, and Lips on trumpet — as they record their first album ever.

Mowry will star as Gary “Moog” Moogowski. Described as a lovably awkward die-hard superfan of the band, he loyally follows them from gig to gig. Moog is an avid audiophile who knows his way around a mixing board. Since he is a walking encyclopedia of the band, he’s often able to offer advice or guidance to Nora (Lilly Singh) when she’s having trouble wrangling, communicating with or even understanding them.

Sydney-based Odin’s Eye Animation has secured sales of kids’ TV series “The Beachbuds” to Disney Japan and ABC Australia. Other territories are under negotiation at the MipTV market in Cannes.

“The Beachbuds” is a 52-episode x 11’ animated series set in Zoobak Resort, a fictional tropical island paradise with the funniest feathered friends. With a target demographic of 6 to 11-year-olds “The Beachbuds” teaches kids about harmony, hospitality and humor, so no matter what happens everyone can have their best day ever.

The series is produced by J-Toon Productions, a U.S. and Indonesian firm, established in 2013 by industrialist and minerals magnate Jimmy Budiarto, and Montreal-based producer-distributor Syon Media. The producers previously negotiated a license deal for Southeast Asia, where the series is now available on Disney Plus Hotstar.

The series is directed by George Samilski with writers including Primetime Emmy-winner Steven Banks, Ken Goin and John R. Morey (“Family Guy”).

Music...

Estelle Harris, who became one of TV’s most beloved characters as George Costanza’s perpetually nagging mother on Seinfeld, died Saturday at the age of 93. Her son, Glen Harris, confirmed the actress’ death to The Hollywood Reporter.

“It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25pm,” Glen said in a statement. “Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her.”

Although she only...

Estelle Harris, who played George Costanza’s (Jason Alexander) mother Estelle on the iconic NBC sitcom Seinfeld, died Saturday evening of natural causes in Palm Desert, California, just weeks before her 94th birthday.

“It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris has passed on this evening at 6:25pm,” her son Glen Harris, who held her as she drew her final breath, told Deadline. “Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her.”

Born Estelle Nussbaum in New York City on April 22, 1928, Harris appeared on 27 episodes of Seinfeld between 1992 and 1998. (The character had been named Estelle before she landed the part.) She began pursuing acting at assorted amateur community theaters while raising her children, and went on to find incredible success both on stage and on screen, also featuring in such series as Futurama,...

Exclusive: Christy Carlson Romano, who voiced the titular character in Disney Channel’s Kim Possible, and her husband Brendan Rooney have launched a podcast interview series and have set Rudy Giuliani’s daughter Caroline as one of the first guests.

The pair have teamed with podcast studio Paradiso to launch Burn The Curtain, which will feature interviews with celebrities, dealing with success as well as post-stardom struggles and other issues.

Carlson Romano also starred in Disney’s Even Stevens and has a digital cooking show, Bucket List Bistro, on Hulu and Fox’s YouTube Channel. Still remembered as “that girl who was on that Disney show”, she bounced back from substance abuse, found purpose, got married and started a family and now she wants to talk about it.

Romano and Rooney will ask their guests everything from how they got started, how they achieved success, post-stardom struggles, balancing careers and families,...

Fox has ordered mockumentary series “This Country” from executive producers Jenny Bicks and Paul Feig, marking the broadcast networks first commitment for its 2021-22 slate.

Based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning series of created by Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, the half-hour comedy stars Chelsea Holmes (“At What Cost?”), Sam Straley (“The Kids Are Alright”), Seann William Scott (“Lethal Weapon), Aya Cash (“The Boys”), Taylor Ortega (“Kim Possible”), YouTube star Krystal Smith and Justin Linville (“What We Do in the Shadows”).

Per Fox, “This Country” follows a documentary crew that goes to a small town to study young adults and their current concerns. Their focus is the daily lives of cousins Kelly (Holmes) and Shrub Mallet (Straley) and their idiosyncratic surroundings.

“This Country” is written by Bicks, who will executive produce alongside director Feig, BBC Studios’ Angie Stephenson and Charlie Cooper and Daisy May Cooper. Feigco’s Dan Magnante...

It’s finally October and every streaming service is making sure subscribers have a lot of suitably spooky content to check out this Halloween. In the case of Disney Plus, the Mouse House’s service has this week launched its “Halloween” collection which collates every single Halloween-related movie, short film and TV special/episode that can be found across the site right now.

Many of your all-time favorite family-friendly Halloween watches are housed in the collection, too, like seasonal mainstays Hocus Pocus and Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas. Countless Disney lovers also have a lot of fondness for the Halloweentown films, all four of which can be found on D+. Elsewhere, you can catch Eddie Murphy vehicle The Haunted Mansion, classic animation The Adventures of Ichabod and Toad and the Twitches twosome.

As for the many TV episodes available, there are special Halloween-themed editions of beloved shows like Hannah Montana,...

Exclusive: Sadie Stanley has signed with Gersh Agency for representation. Stanley’s breakout role came in 2019 when she headlined Disney Channel’s live-action Kim Possible movie remake. She currently stars in the recently-released Netflix film The Sleepover, along with Malin Akerman, Ken Marino, and Joe Manganiello.

Directed by Pitch Perfect 3 and Step Up: All In filmmaker Trish Sie, The Sleepover follows two siblings who discover their seemingly normal mom is a former thief in witness protection. Mom is forced to pull one last job, and the kids team up to rescue her over the course of an action-packed night.

Since landing her leading role with Kim Possible, which was also her first-ever network audition, Stanley has booked roles on The Goldbergs, Dead to Me, and Room 104.

She’ll continue to be repped by Aefh, Stagecoach Entertainment, and Goodman, Genow, Schnekman, Smelkinson & Christopher.

Fox is launching its first digital short series. The network has given an eight-episode series order to “Bucket List Bistro,” hosted by Christy Carlson Romano (“Kim Possible”).

The show, premieres Thursday, Aug. 27, will run on Hulu and Fox’s YouTube channel. New episodes will continue to roll out every Thursday through the fall.

“Bucket List Bistro” is the first original series coming from Fox’s “Taste of Fox” YouTube channel, which features clips and bonus features from the network’s culinary series like “Masterchef” and “Hell’s Kitchen,” as well as food-centered content from Fox stars. “Bucket List Bistro” is the first short not related to programming on Fox’s lineup.

“Bucket List Bistro” will feature Romano and her family as she creates international dishes and recipes from her “travel bucket list.” According to Fox, the show was inspired by Carlson “being stuck working from home due to Covid-19 and being a parent of young children.

If you, like so many of us, have found yourself doing an absurd amount of binge-watching during isolation and yet you find yourself struggling to find a decent thing actually worth watching, here is TheWrap’s list of the five most binge-worthy original series from the major streamers, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, Apple TV+, Showtime, and Amazon.

Netflix: “Love Is Blind”

Little did we know that soon enough, we’d all be in the pods. Close your eyes and let the sweet, grating tones of Jessica’s voice carry you away.

Netflix: “The Witcher”

Watch this while you pray that Henry Cavill didn’t come in contact with the infected “Game of Thrones” actor who was set to star in Season 2 of this monster-hunter drama.

Netflix: “Sex Education”

Try not to think of all the sex you’re not having while cooped up in quarantine/isolation.

Also Read: Should...

Mouse House streamer Disney Plus went live in India on Wednesday, 18 days before the previously announced launch date of March 29.

Disney’s existing Indian streamer Hotstar app is now rebranded as Disney Plus Hotstar on Android and iOS. The Disney Plus Hotstar branding is in addition to the platform’s existing bouquet of TV, movies, news, sports and other premium content.

On Wednesday, a wealth of Disney, Marvel, National Geographic and Disney Originals became available to stream on the platform.

These include “The World According to Jeff Goldblum,” “The Mandalorian,” “Diary of a Future President,” “Dumbo,” “The Avengers,” “One Day at Disney” and “High School Musical: The Musical – The Series.”

In addition to English, much of the content is available dubbed in the Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages, including “Free Solo,” “Kim Possible,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “A Bug’s Life,” “DuckTales,” “The Lion King” and “Star Wars Rebels.

Exclusive: Chelsea Holmes and Sam Straley are set as leads opposite Seann William Scott in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot This Country. Taylor Ortega and Krystal Smith also have joined the project based on the BBC series, from Jenny Bicks, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate, Fox Entertainment and BBC Studios.

Written by Bicks and to be directed by Feig, This Country is a half-hour mockumentary inspired by the BBC Three format created by Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper. The show follows the daily lives of cousins Kelly (Holmes) and Shrub Mallet (Straley), who are trailed by a documentary crew as they go to a small town to study young adults and their current concerns. The show follows the pair as they pursue their dreams, confront challenges and...

A new pint-sized African American superhero is joining Marvel’s superhero TV universe in what will be an animated series titled “Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.” Ordered by the Disney Channel, and based on the popular comic book, “Moon Girl” follows the adventures of nine-year-old Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl), a 13-year-old super-genius, and her ten-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur. After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into present-day New York City, via a time vortex, the duo works together to protect the city’s Lower East Side from danger.

The series hails from “black-ish” and “grown-ish” executive producers Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland via their ABC Studios-based Cinema Gypsy Productions, as well as Marvel Animation & Family Entertainment, and Emmy Award-winner Steve Loter (Disney’s “Kim Possible”).

Created by Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare, and Natacha Bustos, Moon Girl made her first appearance in the December 2016 comic, “Moon Girl and...

Russi Taylor, a voice actor and Disney legend who was the official voice of Minnie Mouse for many years, died in Glendale, Calif. on Friday, according to the Walt Disney Company. She was 75 years old.

Taylor first assumed the Minnie Mouse role more than 30 years ago and gave it voice in hundreds of Disney projects, including television, theme park experiences, animated shorts, and theatrical films.

“Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor,” Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, said in a statement Saturday.

“For more than 30 years, Minnie and Russi worked together to entertain millions around the world—a partnership that made Minnie a global icon and Russi a Disney Legend beloved by fans everywhere,” Iger continued. “We’re so grateful for Russi’s talent as well as the tremendous spirit and great joy she brought to everything she did. It was...

Promoting strong female characters was very much on brand for several of Disney Channel’s star characters at Saturday’s Disney Channel Fan Fest held at California Adventure Park, a day-long event that treated kids and their families to a bevy of fan-focused activities, from Q&A sessions to musical performances and meet and greets with Disney Channel stars.

Sofia Carson, who stars as Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen in Disney Channel’s original movies “Descendants” and “Descendants 2,” revealed that in the third installation her character will continue to be a positive role model for young viewers.

“Evie has always been very much focused on her heart and what she cares about most is giving back and especially empowering young girls and young women everywhere, so you’ll especially see that in ‘Descendants 3,’ said Carson, who also joined the cast of the Freeform drama series “Pretty Little Liars” this past year.

Fox wants to make some of its commercial interruptions so short that viewers can’t run out on them.

Executives representing the Fox broadcast network have been discussing a commercial pod they call a “Fast Break” during recent development meetings with media buyers, according to three people familiar with the situation. The pod would appear as the first in a particular program broadcast and contain just 60 seconds of national commercials, these people said. They will contain no more than three different ads lasting 15 seconds to 30 seconds. Just before the break comes on the air, viewers would be told the ad interruption will be shorter, according to one of these people.

Fox isn’t the only network working to cut back on the dozens of commercials for air fresheners, gadgets and allergy medications flung at couch potatoes every hour (NBCUniversal has been trying the same) but it has been among the...

The beloved animated series “Kim Possible,” which aired for five years on the Disney Channel in the early aughts, connected with its audience because it portrayed a strong but fashion-forward young woman who fought crime and got good grades. So it only makes sense that when the network decided to reboot the story and titular character as a live-action TV movie, the creative team behind it would want to preserve the message of female empowerment while updating the tale to relate to a whole new batch of 6 to 14-year-old viewers.

“When I first joined the project, it was right around the time ‘Wonder Woman’ had been released,” says executive producer Zanne Devine. “Given this moment in time, my pitch was this is ‘Wonder Woman’ for the prepubescent set.”

This is the age of inclusion and gender neutrality, after all, so gone are the days of Kim (Sadie Stanley) shaking her...

"Call me, beep me if you want to reach me."

Millennials who grew up watching the Disney Channel know that line well, thanks to the animated series Kim Possible, which ran from 2002 to 2007. Now, a new generation is being introduced to the character with the live-action Kim Possible film, premiering Feb. 15 on the Disney Channel.

Christy Carlson Romano, who voiced the star of the cartoon during its run and now stars as Poppy Blu in the film, joined Sadie Stanley, the face of the live-action character, for a sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter In Studio to discuss bringing ...

Adam Bonnett, former Disney Channels Worldwide Evp of Original Programming, has been appointed Executive Producer, Mattel Television.

During his 21 years at Disney Channel, Bonnett was behind the network’s signature and most successful original TV series and movies, in addition to overseeing casting and talent relations. His long list of hits include such Disney Channel series as Hannah Montana, Good Luck Charlie, The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody, The Suite Life On Deck, Sonny With A Chance, That’s So Raven, Lizzie McGuire and the Emmy-Award-winning series Even Stevens and Wizards of Waverly Place, as well as movies such as the Descendants franchise, Teen Beach Movie, Disney’s Zombies, Adventures in Babysitting (reboot) and Disney’s upcoming live-action movie Kim Possible.

At Mattel Television, Bonnett will be responsible for global episodic content development and production for live action and animation based on the company’s iconic brands. He will report to Richard Dickson,...

In today’s TV News Roundup, “So You Think You Can Dance” gets renewed and DeWanda Wise and Jessica Williams enter”The Twilight Zone.”

Dates

Netflix’s new Ricky Gervais series “After Life” is set to launch March 8 with co-stars Kerry Godliman, Tom Basden, Tony Way, David Bradley and Ashley Jensen. “After Life” follows Tony (Gervais) who decides to punish the world by saying and doing whatever he wants after his wife Lisa (Godliman) dies. Other cast members include Penelope Wilton, David Earl, Joe Wilkinson, Kerry Godliman, Mandeep Dhillon, Jo Hartley, Roisin Conaty, Tim Plester and Diane Morgan. In addition to executive producing, Gervais created, wrote and directed the series alongside producer Charlie Hanson and fellow executive producer Duncan Hayes.

Conan O’Brien‘s late-night talk show “Conan” is set to return with guest Tom Hanks Jan. 22 at 11 p.m. on TBS. The premiere, which marks O’Brien’s ninth...

In Friday’s roundup, NBC releases the first trailer for NBC’s “The Blacklist” Season 6, and the Disney Channel Original Movie “Kim Possible” gets a premiere date.

First Looks

NBC has released the first trailer for Season 6 of “The Blacklist,” which will return with a two-night/two-part premiere event beginning Jan. 3 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt and continuing Jan. 4 at 9 p.m. Following the revelation that Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader) isn’t who he says he is, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) is torn between the relationship she’s developed with the man assumed to be her father and her desire to get to the bottom of secrets and lies. Meanwhile, Red leads Liz and the FBI to some of the most strange and dangerous criminals yet, growing his empire and eliminating rivals in the process.

Dates

“Kim Possible,” a Disney Channel Original Movie based on the beloved animated series,...

Were you nervous when you heard Disney would be turning the beloved animated series Kim Possible into a Disney Channel Original Movie? Well, this trailer should put you at ease. In the new trailer above, Sadie Stanley Is Kim Possible. It looks like the cartoon came to life. The Dcom premieres Friday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. and also stars The Goldbergs' Sean Giambrone as Kim's best friend and sidekick Ron Stoppable. She's a butt-kicking high schooler who just wants to save the world…and navigate the social hierarchy of high Middleton High School. When she's not saving the world, Kim's an everyday high schooler, she's late for class and going toe-to-toe with her frenemy, Bonnie...

Disney Channel’s live-action “Kim Possible” movie is bringing back some familiar faces.

Christy Carlson Romano and Patton Oswalt are both set to appear in the upcoming film. Romano, who voiced the titular teen super-spy in the original series, will appear in a cameo role, while Oswalt will play the villainous Professor Dementor, the same character he voiced in the show.

The movie, which is expected to debut in 2019, stars Sadie Stanley as Kim Possible and Sean Giambrone as Ron Stoppable. The rest of the cast includes Alyson Hannigan, Todd Stashwick, Taylor Ortega, Ciara Wilson, Erika Tham, Issac Ryan Brown, and Connie Ray.

The original series launched in 2002 and ran for 87 episodes, and was nominated for an Emmy in 2003 for outstanding animated program. It also inspired two animated Disney Channel movies, “Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama” and “Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time.”...

Disney Channel has found their Wade. Deadline reports Issac Ryan Brown has joined the network's upcoming Kim Possible TV movie.As reported earlier, Disney Channel is producing a live-action movie based on the animated TV series Kim Possible. The original show follows Possible, a teenager torn between her life as a high school student and a professional crime fighter.

Baymax, the giant, cuddly health bot turned crimefighter and his brainy would-be superhero friends are back in “Big Hero 6 The Series,” premiering as a weekend event Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10, on Disney Channel, the DisneyNOW TV Everywhere app and Disney Channel VOD platforms.

The premiere event features two back-to-back episodes each day from 9 to 10 a.m. Edt/Pdt. The series will air new episodes each Saturday thereafter through September.

“Big Hero 6 The Series” picks up where the Academy Award-winning movie left off with 14-year-old Hiro attending the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology by day and moonlighting with Baymax as a crimefighter, along with his college friends Go Go, Wasabi, Honey Lemon and Fred. The series was set up last November with the TV movie “Baymax Returns,” which rewound to just before the original movie ended, revisiting how Hiro rebuilt Baymax while giving the new series a foundation for new adventures.

Disney Channel has cast “The Goldbergs” star Sean Giambrone and newcomer Sadie Stanley as the leads of its upcoming live-action “Kim Possible” movie, the network announced Wednesday.

An adaptation of the 2002 animated series, the movie follows a high school girl named Kim Possible (Stanley) who moonlights as a secret agent with the help of her friend/sidekick Ron Stoppable (Giambrone).

Written by original series creators Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley with Josh Cagan, the upcoming TV movie will be directed by Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky.